Uttar Pradesh announced a survey on Wednesday for the identification of all the unrecognized madrasas in the state. The decision made by the government has triggered a row with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Assaduddin Owaisi. The scenario has been compared to the move to a mini-NRC.
Soon after, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) Priyank Kanoongo and the Yogi Adityanath government’s minority minister Danish Ansari hit back at the Hyderabad MP.
Owaisi has come up with the accusation that the BJP regime in Uttar Pradesh is “harassing Muslims”. He stated that as per Article 30, madrasas come under the ambit of the UP Madarsa Board.
As per the AIMIM Chief, it’s not a survey but a mini-NRC. According to him, the government can’t interfere with their rights under Article 30 as some madrasas are under the UP madrasa board. And the sole aim of the government is to harass Muslims.
Kanoonga on the other hand stated that Owaisi is Misleading and lying to be the minorities of the state. He further added that the Hyderabad MP is playing with the rights of the youth.
According to him, the Article 30 argument will not be applicable in this case as the government is the custodian of the rights of children who are out of school.
The information about the out-of-school children would be collected and for this, the government would ought to reach the madrasas.
Identification of unmapped Madrasas
He stated that the Uttar Pradesh government has the right to acknowledge the condition of children who have been studying in unmapped and unrecognized madrasas. The count reaches to over 1.10 crore children.
The NCPCR Chairman has thanked Adityanath and UP minority affairs minister Danish Ansari for having taken cognizance of the out-of-school children issue, flowed by the order for the survey for the same.
Kanoonga has further urged that all the states should be carrying out similar surveys. And no communal right could be kept above the rights of children.
As per the announcement the move aims at ascertaining information on the number of students, teachers, and staff.
It would so highlight the affiliation of unrecognized madrasas with any non-government organization.
A survey would be conducted by the NCPCR.
Ansari stated that this move would aim at providing maternity and childcare leaves to women employees who have been working in the madrasas corresponding to the rules applicable in the state’s education department.
Ansari said that the main aim behind this decision is to provide maternity and childcare leaves to women employees working in madrasas corresponding to the rules applicable in the state’s education department.
He added that barring 16,513 legal madrasas, several others are not recognized by the state board.
He further stated that the data should be available to the government. They also need to ensure that students are getting quality education and facilities.
Ansari has accused Owaisi of being indulged in misleading politics. He further said that Muslims of this era are well aware. They trust Yogi and the government. They are aware of what is good and bad for them.
This decision has come amidst the ongoing tension in other states which are led by BJP.
Two Madrasas have been abolished in Assam.
One Madrasa in the Barpeta district has been demolished on Monday. The demolition happened after it was reported that it allegedly sheltered two Bangladeshi operatives of the Ansarul Bangla Team for four years.
Another demolition drive was carried out on Wednesday. This happened days after a teacher at the institution was arrested. The teacher was suspected of having links with terror outfits – Al-Qaeda, and Asarul.
